Assigkok t



Feb. 3, '1931. R. c. KNOLL 1,790,853

SAUSAGE STUFFING AND LINKING MACHINE Filed March 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f fie; 1 M 471520! 7 m WW R. c. KNOLL 1,790,868

SAUSAGE STUFFING AND LINKING MACHINE Feb. 3, 1931.

Filed March '7, 1929 4 Sheets+$heet I 2 Feb. 3, 1931. R. c. KNOLL 4 SAUSAGE STUFFING' AND LINKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 7, i929 'Feb. 3, 1931.

R. c. KNOLL 1,790,868

SAUSAGE STUFFING AND LINKING MACHIN E Filed March '7. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i Patented Feb. 3, 193 1; i

f mm 1 nor 0. KNOLL, or onroeeo, 'ILLINQIS, .Assreuoit moiuinnnnj satires ram. '00.; or

cHIoeGo; ILLINOIS, a cannon-Arron" on same? SAUSAGE srururnsnun 1.1m nrAci-r un' Application .filed March 7. 192.9. ;se ria1uo;se5,osa-

, xM-yinvention relatesto sausage stuifingand ;linkingmachines, and more in particular to a novel construction of machine which stu'iis a'ndlinksthe casings by twisting them, the

stufiing and linking operations being car-- .{ried out successively'and automatically. The usual practice of manufacturers of sausage consists in the mounting ofa casing-0n a tube whichis connected to a large receiver or.

m stutfer, in which the sausage meat is placed. .The meat from this, stufier is forced out of the end of a tube into 'a casing fonits full len th 0 erators, then take this len th and a P z:

-;la-y it across a measuring device or gauge '15 and twist the saus'ageihtothe lengths required for the trade. This practice-requires a. largeamountof labor,-is very slow. and tedious, and is objectionable. from a sanitary viewpoint, there being a great amount- 0f to handlin of such sausa e b the o cra t-or.

By means of the present construction; the

.sausage meat is forced from the stu fier" under pressure, into a cylindrical container of my machine, and d1rectly. 1-nto a caslng.

25 Novel means and methodsare provided for 'assin the sausa e-meat into the casin and D D b/ for twisting the-casing atproper lengths.

These steps are carriedout automatic-a-l lyand successively, without any handling of the so sausage by the operator. I

. Lmong theobjects of my invention are to provide a novel construction of sausage stuff 7 ing and linking machine, which is very com- 7 pact and necessitates the usedof the least amount of manual labor; further to provide a novelconstructioi-i of drive means for operating the 'stufiing and; linking machine; further to provide a novel-construction of V valve mechanism'adapted to not only allow '13 for the fic-wingof the sausage meaQhutalso throw into or out of engagement a clutch mechanism for 'linkingthe sausages, the valvestarting the operation of'the machine before the sausage meathegins to flow, and stopping 43 the fiowof neat before the clutch is thrownout of engagement further toprovide a novel construction of cam mechanism for closing and opening the passage fort-he sausage; the 1 closing takingplace during the twisting op 50 oration; further to PI'QVldG novei means andmethod-of twisting thesausagesand male 7 ing them-of substantially uniform length} further .to provide a novel gear-andcammeci anism; further to prov dea novelmeans and construction of regulat ng valve for varying construction of housing 'fadapted ;to be au- 7 .justed and positioned so as to allow forjtlre attaching iof a plurality of my sausage stufi-' ing and linking .inachin'eslto a single s affer; further to provide-a leaksproofandsanitary constituction further -to, provide no'vel conwill-later -more tully appear; v 1 invention furtherresides in the. comb nation, construction and arrangements of;

parts ,illustratedi-nthe accompanying draw- .ings, and while l'have shown therein a p re-'- jferred se nbodiment; I desire it to beuunderstoodthat thesa'me is-susceptiblel of modification @and change. without departing from the.

p Of my invention.- H y I 7 .Referring to thend i cross section taken through mynovel .con-

-. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary viewinhorizontal Fig.1 is a fragmentaryview inpvertical cross section taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs?) is a fragmentary view in side; eleva -.tion of the front of the machine. g aryview'i-n frontelevas :tion of the construction disclosed inFig. 3', but with the slide removed;

. F g. 41s a fra Fig. 5 is aifragmentaryxview in vertical cross section of ;a portion of the'machine disclosedin Fig. 1, butJon an enlarged scale.

- ,Fig. 6 isa view in vertical crosssection taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 7 is a: view .invertical cross section taken on the line 77. of Fig.

Fig. j8ris a view in horizontal cross-section i takenon-theli-ne 88of Fig. p

is a diagrammatic showing'of the means-and method of changing the fulcrum point of ;the.1:egulating valve disclosed. in

the s zeofopemngthrough which the exudedv -mea-t .pass es, andfor varying the size of sausages produced; further to providea novel Fig. 6, by means of which the valve may be caused to open to any desired degree for the purpose of making sausages of varying size. Fig. 10 1s a View 1n front elevation with a portion thereof broken away, disclosing the means of shifting and adjusting my machine so as to connect a plurality to a single stutter.

Fig. 1.1 is a fragmentary view in verticalcross section,witha portion in side elevation, disclosing a connection which may be used when it is desired to stuff relatively large and coarse sausages and meats.

My novel construction of sausage stuffing and linhingmachine comprises a housing 1 provided with a boss 2 mounted upon a pedestal 3 of a base not shown). Mounted With.-

in the housing is a fractional horse power motor 4, operated by a switch A, and provided with a shaft 5 'havi-ng'mountcd thereon a pin-- ion.6, meshing with and driving'anidler gear 7,1nounted upon a stub shaft 8, which is shiftable in an arcuate slot-ted har 8. This idler gear? meshes withand drives acompara t-ively large gear 9, mounted upon a -shaft 10. The gear 9 acts also as'a fly Wheel, so

that themotor need not be stopped but may operate at all times, thegear 9 carrying enough moment-um to overcome "the initial large torque when the machine is being started. It is to be understood that this tor is operating at all times that it'is desired to use the machine, and the gears rotating at all times, regardless ofjwhether or not the machine is stutiing and linking sausage, as'

when a new casing is being slipped over the tube, etc. Of course, it to be understood that the motor may be shut down at'any time that it'is desired, but in view of the small consumption of current of a'motorof the size required for operating my machinawhich is substantially one eighth to one-sixth, horse power, liQlS unnecessary to continually start and stop. the motor. Furthermore, in view of the large torque necessary inthe starting of the mechanism, it has always been necessary to use a motor of considerably greater horse power to take care of the initial load. Thus. there would be a great waste in the initial cost and current consumption. In my construction, the fly wheelis adapted to start the machine when the clutch is thrown in,

without any danger of burning outthe motor. The mechanism. of the machine is set in motion whenever the operator so desires.

The fly wheel gear 9 is provided with a hub 11 and bearing12, this gear and hub being adapted to rotate upon and relative to the shaft 10.. The shaft 10 is mounted within bearings 13and 14, within a housing 15, and in'be'arixigs 16 mounted in a base plate 1.7 at the rear of the machine. In order to properly lubricate thisshaft, I provide longitudinal and radial 'openin'g's for thereception of a lubricant. Mounted on and rotatablewith of such machines the shaft, is clutch member 18 provided with lugs 19 adapted to engage lugs 20 on the hub 12 of the fly Wheel gear. Theclutch member 18 is provided with an annular channel 21, in

which are mounted pins 22 on a bifurcated v lever arm 23. This lever arm'is pivoted at 24 to a lug 25 provided on the under surface of a' casting 26 in the upper part of the housing 15. The casting 26 is connected through a nipple 27 to the boss 28 of a stuifer 29, a portion thereof only being shown. The stutter is generally a large cylindrical container containing the sausage meat, the meat being held or forced under pressure into the sausage stufling and linking machine. A nut 30 connects the nipple to the member 26 and prevents any leakage of the meat. The member 26 is further provided with a valve 31 adapted to be operated by means of a handle 32,

for openim or closing of a passage 33 for the meat from the stutter to the linking mechanism. A look nut 34 allows forthe turnmg of the handle 32an d thevalve 3-1 but prevents any leakage of the meat products'there around. The handle-can be turned through an angle of 1 -As shown, the nut 34'fits relatively tightly to the upper shoulder35 of the valve member, the central portion of thevalve' having; an upstanding polygonal head 36, for engaging the polygonal opening in the handle or arm 32. Thus the valve and arm rotate relatively to the-lock nut 34. F

"The bottoinportion of" the valve 31-is sea'ted in a depression 37 this lowerp'ortion' of' the valve being, further provided with a lug 38 having a polygonalopening 89,

adapted to receive a polygonal projection 40 on'a stem 41. The slot 42 in which the lug 38 fits, passes transversely through th'eentire machine so as'to allow for theready removal of the stem, the flange 43 preventing leakage of either the meat products or any lubricant. The stem 41 is providedwith a cam 44' adapted to impinge against the bifur-.

cated arm 23, andforce the clutch 18 out of engagement with the hubll of thetly Wheel gear 9. The valve, cam, and clutch mecha nism is so constructed that the machine gets into motion before the meat starts to flow mentwith the fly wheel gear.

Mounted on and keyed to the shaft 10 Within the housing 15, is a cam47 provided with cam surfaces 48and 49 intermediate of Thus, when I have'disclosed a weighted member, it is to be understood that any tension means may be and holds the plate 89 in contacting engagement with the sausages. The position ofth *"htd b '91 Y b d ueig e mem e1 may e caan c to sai the tension desired upon the sausages pas between the plates 86 and 87. A thumb screw 92 allows for such adyustability. Although used as desired. I

A bracket member 93 hinged at 94 so that the same may be dropped downwardly, provides the support for the sausages, plates and tension means as the sausages pass from thetube 75. A chute 93 may be connected to the bracket by any suitable means. The. plates 86 and 87 are made adjustable and may be raisedor lowered through the medium of a thumb screw 95, while the entire bracket member is made ad ustable by means of the ears 96 and bolts 97 adapted to be positioned. in threaded openings 98 in the front wall of a size considerably greater than may be made by passing the meat through the tube 75, I provide a threaded elbow 101 adapted to be attached to a tube 102 upon which the casing is placed. In order to make the construction leak proof, the elbow 101 is threaded at 103 into a threaded opening 104 in the casting 26, while the other end is enlarged and threaded at 105, the enlarged portion impingtions 105 and 106 being forced into tight engagement by means of a nut 107. A plug 108 is adapted to close the threaded opening an Whenever this larger tube is not in use. Although I have shown the elbow and enlarged tube as being tapped into the top of the casting, it'is to be understood that I may provide the tube and the longitudinal opening leading theret-o,.of a substantially greater diameter, so as to take care of the larger sausages, while I may provide tubes 7 5 of varying sizes for use in the making of sanof various sizes. 7

From the above description, it will be seen that I have provided. a novel mechanism which is very eflicient in operation and does away with the frequent handling of the meat. My construction is extremely light, and can be easily adjusted by the operator. All exposed parts, or where the meat products may come into contact, is made of stainless steel or an aluminum alloy which .isrust-proof. There is no possibility of the meat being tainted as it passes through the machine, and

mg against shoulder 106 on the tube, the porall theworking parts areeasilyaccessible for assembly, cleaning and repair. The housmg 15= is partially filled with a lubricant to ,the point where-the cam 47 and intermittent gear construction dips therein, thls. providing 1 a ,splash system of lubricatlon. There is no possibility of thelubricant working its'way to a point where it may contact with the sausage meat.

Having thus disclosed the invention,

I claim:

1. In a sausage stufling and linking machine, a prime mover therefor adapted to be constantly rotated, a fly wheel gear rotated by said prime mover, a shaft, said gear being rotatable on said shaft,a clutch on said shaft and rotatable therewith, means operated by said shaft for stuffing and twisting sausages, a passagefor the sausage meat, and means in said passage for throwing said clutch into or out of engagement with said gear.

2. In a sausage stuffing and linking machine, a prime mover therefor adapted to be constantly rotated, a fly wheel gear rotated by said prime mover, a shaft,-said gear being rotatable on said shaft, a clutch on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a valve operated by said shaft for stufling and twisting sausages, a passage for the sausage meat, and means in said passage for throwing said clutch into or out of engagement with said gear. 7

8. In a'sausage stufling' and linking machine, a prime mover therefor'adapted to be constantly rotated, a fly wheel gear rotated by said prime mover, a shaft, said gear being rotatable on said shaft, a clutch on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a valve operated by said shaft for stufiing and twisting sausages, a passage for the sausage meat, and means in said passage for throwing said clutchinto or out of engagement with said gear, said means throwing said clutch into operative engagement with said gear when the passage is open,

and out of operative engagement when said passa e is closed,

l fn a sausage stuffing and linking machine, a prime mover therefor adapted to be constantly rotated, a fly wheel gear rotatedby said prime mover, a shaft, said gear being rotatable onsaid shaft, a clutch on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a valve operated by said shaft for stuffing and twisting sausages, a passage for the sausage meat, and means in said passage for throwing said clutch into or out of engagement with said gear, said valve throwing said clutch into operative engagement with said gear and. causing the shaft to be rotated thereby when said valve is opened, and throwing said clutch out of operative engagement with said gear when the valve is closed. 7

5. In a sausage stufling and linking machine adapted to be connected to a stuffer containing sausage meat, operating means for stuffing and twisting a casing, means control- 7 ling the flow of said meat from said stuifer, said control means being operatively connected to said opera-ting means, for-starting meat from-said stufl'er, and for stoppingthe flow of meat prior to the stopping of the stufling and twisting mechanism.

7. In a sausage stufiingand linking machine,"a motor adapted to be constantly rotated, a fly wheel gear rotated by said motor and loosely mounted upon a shaft, a toothed hub on said gear, a clutch mounted on said of said gear and be rotated thereby, means operated by said shaft for stufling and twisting sausages, a passage for the sausage meat, a valve in said passage, a stem operated by V the flow of sausage meat from said stuffer.

erat-ing the starting means aheadof the flow of sausage through said passage.

12. Ina sausage stufiing and-linking ma'-' chine provided with a passage communicating-with a stutter containing sausage/meat,

operating means for stutfing and twisting a caslng, control means for sald passage,fand 7 means movable with said control means for starting said operating means ahead of 13. In a sausage stufiing and linking machine, means for stufiing a casing and pro-t videdwith a passage, a valve mechanism for said passage, a cam operated lever for movement of said valve, andmeansfor varylng the fulcrum of-said lever for varylng the.

movement of said valve.

I In witnes whereof, hereunto subscribemy name to this specification; shaft and adapted to engage the toothed hub ROY c. KNOLL.

said valve and provided at its lower end with v a cam adapted to contact with said clutch, 1 said valve when turned to closing position turning the stem and cam to impinge against said clutch and throw it out of operating engagement with said gear, and'when turned to open position to cause the cam to release said clutch, and tension means for forcing said clutch into clutching engagement with said gear upon the release of said cam.

8. In a sausage stuffing and linking mechanism, a discharge for said mechanism comprising a pair of angularly arranged plates for the reception of the linked sausages,

means for adjusting the position of said plates, and tension means located above said plates and adapted to bear against said sausages.

9. In a sausage stuffing and linking machine adapted to be connected to a stutter containing sausage meat, a casing having a passage for the flow of meat, a plunger provided with a valve operable in said passage, and rings on said plunger for preventing leakage of the meat.

10. In a sausage stuffing and linking machine provided with a passage communi;

eating with a stuifer containing sausage meat, operating means for stuffing and twisting a casing, means for controlling said passage,

and means connected with said operating and control means for effecting a starting of said operating means ahead of said control means.

11. In a sausage stufling and linking machine provided with a passage communicating with a stuffer containing sausage meat, operating means forstufing and twisting a casing, starting means therefor, control means for said passage, and means associated with said starting and control means for op- 

